Armstrong to the rescue

Published 4:00 am, Monday, November 18, 1996

SAN ANTONIO - B.J. Armstrong has never coveted the Sixth Man of the Year award. He's always thought of himself as a starter, and his low productivity as a backup has reflected that.

Sixth man? Might as well call him fifth wheel. After winning three championships as a regular with the Chicago Bulls, Armstrong is clearly uncomfortable with a bench role on a losing team.

That's why his 24-point output in Sunday night's 102-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs was so welcome by the Warriors. Not only did it represent nearly 20 points more than Armstrong has been averaging, but it energized a lethargic team playing consecutive nights.

True to his reputation as a team player, Armstrong has kept from chirping too much about his limited role. But there's no question he savored the season-high 31 minutes he played Sunday.

"I got some extended minutes playing with Chris (Mullin) and those guys, and they make the game easy," said Armstrong, who made eight of 10 shots and added a team-high six assists. "Playing out there with those guys makes a big difference."

Golden State was coming off an energy-sapping loss the night before at Houston, whereas the rested Spurs were getting Vinny Del Negro and Will Perdue back from sick bay. So you had to figure the catch of the day would be Warriors Alamoed.

Instead, Golden State took advantage of the extended absences of San Antonio standouts David Robinson and Chuck Person and earned a split on its Texas trip. The Warriors also gained some confidence as they head into a treacherous portion of their schedule, which includes games against the Lakers, Jazz and a rematch with the Rockets this week.

"To get a road win, whether they're beat up or not, is important for us going back home to play the Lakers (Tuesday) and the stretch we have coming up," said coach Rick Adelman.

The flight home was a happy one thanks largely to Armstrong and fellow backup guard Bimbo Coles. They combined for 19 points and just one turnover to rescue the Warriors from a first-half malaise.

The visitors scored just 15 points in the first quarter and fell behind by 13 in the half before the guard tandem changed the contour of the game with some heady defense and crisp shooting.

"We feel comfortable with each other," said Coles, who chipped in 12 points in 22 minutes. "We play with each other every day in practice, so we know how to play together and what to expect from each other."

They also know to get the ball to Latrell Sprewell when he turns on the jets. Sprewell scored 12 of his 20 points as the Warriors wiped out a 47-43 halftime deficit with an astonishing 26-4 run to start the second half.

A Sprewell trey capped the rally, which put the Warriors on top 69-51 with 5:13 left in the third quarter and showcased them at their absolute best.

For the second straight night, Felton Spencer came off the bench to make a significant contribution. The center acquired in the Rony Seikaly trade had been practically invisible in his first two weeks as a Warrior, averaging just 2.4 points and struggling to fit the offense.

But after scoring 10 points Saturday, he again made his presence felt by clogging the lane and snaring five rebounds in just 18 minutes. He also avoided foul trouble, which has plagued him previously.

"When you're lost out on the floor, you tend to roam and get into trouble," Spencer said.

Adelman wouldn't commit to it, but Spencer's recent performance and his experience may earn him the start against the Lakers and Shaquille O'Neal.

For now Armstrong will not get that distinction, but at least he's got his coach's attention - in case he was feeling like a fifth wheel.

NOTES: The Warriors are the first team to score 100 points on the Spurs, who had been holding foes to an average of 86.4 ppg. . . . Vernon Maxwell and Avery Johnson scored 17 points apiece for San Antonio. . . . The Warriors shot 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from 3-point range after hitting just 16 percent (4-for-25) of their attempts in the previous two games.&lt;